HCM CITY —  Children who live at five social welfare centres and shelters in HCM City and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province took part in a Humpty Dumpty Design and Painting Contest from September 17 to October 1.

From this contest, five winners were chosen by the contest’s jury and the public, which will vote via social media from October 2 to 9.

The four centres and shelters represented include Thủ Đức Youth Village, Linh Xuân Children with HIV/AIDS Care and Welfare Centre, HCM City SOS Children’s Village and Vocational Education Centre for Youth in HCM City, and the Children Social Welfare Centre in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province.

The children were under the mentorship of film director Việt Max, fashion designer Thủy Nguyễn, animation artist Phan Vũ Linh, and Kingsmen Vietnam’s design manager Nique Choo.

The winning designs will be mass-produced and sold to the public at pop-up stores set up by Kingsmen Vietnam at high-traffic shopping malls in HCM City in November and December to raise funds for the centres and shelters.

Trần Công Hưng, aged 9, of HCM City SOS Children’s Village in Gò Vấp District, told Việt Nam News: “Through the mentorship, my friends and I were taught how to design and use different colours to paint the concrete statues.”

Film director Việt Max said the contest was a chance for young people to discover their artistic abilities. “Art helps them show their creativity.”

Film director Việt Max helps a girl at HCM City SOS Children’s Village paint a concrete statue at the Humpty Dumpty Design and Painting Contest held from September 17 to October 1 in the city and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province. — VNS Photo Gia Lộc

Nguyễn Đắc Chiến, who specialises in education for children at the village, agreed, saying that the activities helped the children develop their intelligence and personality.

Kevin Cheon, executive director at Kingsmen Vietnam, said that everyone should have an equal opportunity to pursue their dreams under any circumstance.

The contest aims to create a sustainable platform to empower and inspire less privileged youth to nurture their creativity and explore future career opportunities, Cheon said.

The contest is part of a campaign organised by Kingsmen Vietnam, a communication design and production company headquartered in Singapore, and endorsed by HCM City People’s Committee and the city’s Department of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

The campaign aims to raise VNĐ500 million (US$22,026) from September to December. Humpty Dumpty is Kingsmen’s mascot. —VNS